EDUCATION 299 



THE CARE OF THE MENTALLY DEFICIENT 



One of the most pressing needs in social and educational reform in all countries that 

 are organised on modern lines is the proper separation of the " mentally deficient "from 

 those who are normal on the one hand and those who are already provided for as " luna- 

 tics " on the other, and the taking of consistent steps by the state for their treatment, 

 both in their own interests and in those of Society. An important step forward was 

 taken by the Government in England in 1912 by the introduction of the Mental Defi- 

 ciency Bill, which, though not passed that year owing to parliamentary time not per- 

 mitting, was sufficiently discussed to become to some extent a model for future legisla- 

 tion; and its main provisions are therefore worth noting. It was the result of the report 

 (Aug. 1908) of a Royal Commission which had sat from 1904; and its need in one 

 country alone may be gauged from the fact that, according to this report, there were in 

 England and Wales 149,628 mentally defective persons in addition to certified lunatics, 

 and that nearly half of them were in an unprovided condition and a standing menace to- 

 public safety. The mischief done by leaving this class of people at liberty to propagate 

 has received general recognition, and it is well-known that the absence of any proper 

 supervision results in some of the worst sorts of crime. To put them in prison after the 

 offences are committed is to shut the stable-door when the horse has been stolen; more- 

 over prison is not the right place for defectives. Neither however is a lunatic asylum 

 the right place for people who are not actually insane, while it is quite unfitting to mix 

 them with the sane people in workhouses under the poor law. Special homes are re- 

 quired for what is a special class, and it was the object of the Government to organise 

 such institutions, compulsion being put on local authorities for this purpose. 



The bill was introduced by the Home Secretary on May 16, 1912, and its second 

 reading was carried on July 19 by a large majority. It was then referred to a standing 

 committee, and subjected to much valuable criticism; but on November 2'ist Mr. M'- 

 Kenna had to announce that time would not suffice to pass it before the end of the ses- 

 sion. It was agreed however to finish the discussion on the more important clauses, so 

 that a new bill might be introduced in 1913. 



As introduced, the bill consisted of 66 clauses, in 4 Parts. It set up a new Commis- 

 sion as a central authority under the Home Office, " Commissioners for the care of the 

 mentally defective," not exceeding 6, one to be a woman; they were to be independent 

 of the Commissioners in Lunacy, and have nothing to do with the insane or idiots who 

 were under the Lunacy Commissioners, though a possible future amalgamation was 

 contemplated. They were to have general control over the arrangements made for 

 " defectives," supervising the local authorities, providing and inspecting institutions, 

 and administering Parliamentary grants. Subject to them, there were to be local 

 authorities in the shape of committees of the county and county borough councils, who 

 should deal directly with all defectives within their districts, in carrying out the pro- 

 visions of the Act, but their expenditure was to be met by government grants to the 

 extent of a half to two-thirds. Machinery was provided for having the feeble-minded 

 medically certified before a judicial authority; and among other provisions clause 49 

 made it a criminal misdemeanour to marry with a congenitally defective person. 



The bill did not interfere with the feeble-minded who were properly cared for in their 

 own homes; its operation was confined to those defectives who are described in clause 16: 



(a) who are found wandering about neglected, or cruelly treated ; 



(b) who are charged with the commission of any crime, or are undergoing imprisonment 

 or penal servitude or detention in a place of detention or a reformatory, or industrial school, 

 or an inebriate reformatory; 



(c) who are habitual drunkards within the meaning of the Inebriate Acts 1879-1900; 



(d) in whose case, being children discharged on attaining the age of 16 for a special school 

 or class established under the elementary Education Act 1899, such notice has been given 

 by the local education authority as is hereinafter mentioned; 



(e) in whose case it is desirable in the interests of the community that they be deprived 

 of the opportunity of procreating children; 



(f) in whose case such other circumstances exist as may be specified in any order made 



